Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
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Jorge Leon Salazar
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Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
[Following is a volunteer review of "Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures" by Catherine A. Pepe.]
Little siblings Donny and Mary Grace live happily in Wichita, Kansas, until their parents announce the bad news that they must travel to Kenya, Africa. They are going to carry out humanitarian work as missionaries. Mr. Miller will be a priest in a village, while Mrs. Miller will aid the villagers with the obtainment of clean drinking water. Given this situation, Donny and Mary Grace must stay at their grandparents' house in California for the two years the Millers' mission lasts. Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures by Catherine Anna Pepe focuses on the experiences of these children while living with their grandparents. The story addresses thought-provoking topics such as bullying, how to treat a child with Down syndrome, and adapting to the drastic changes that life throws at you.
This children's book is adequately arranged into seventeen chapters and narrated in the third-person perspective with simple and easy-to-understand language. The writing style is descriptive and captivating. The story centers on Mary Grace, an intelligent, charming, and empathetic little girl drawn to solving mysteries. Fortunately, Grandma Cathy and her friends are famous for solving a mystery a while back. They earned the nickname of the Grandma Gang. Donny, the other leading character, was modeled after the author's real brother and was portrayed as a clever, happy, and loving boy. His extremely optimistic attitude toward life conveys an inspiring message. This picture may be distinct from what some believe people with Down syndrome are.
The author included enthralling mysteries that kept me on the edge of my seat. For example, when Donny got lost at the zoo or when the rare notes turned up on Mary Grace's desk. In addition, the plot emphasizes morals around coexistence, love, and family life. Likewise, it is worth noting the thoughtful message that life can have strange twists and turns that seem negative. However, they can leave you with valuable lessons and experiences.
Overall, the book has many appealing aspects. The one I liked the most was how the subject of bullying was raised and developed, as it involved a mystery through a realistic case. It seemed rude and distressing but was handled in such a way that kept its realism and served to teach life lessons. I loved that the story highlighted that youths may have inappropriate behaviors induced mainly by dysfunctions in their homes. Nonetheless, they can always redeem themselves and correct their mistakes.
There was nothing I disliked about this brilliant book. The story captivated me from the beginning. I felt compassion for Donny and Mary Grace because they were going to spend two years without their parents. Plus, the bullying case turned my stomach as if it were against a close family member or me.
The editing was professional since I didn't notice any grammar or spelling errors. Considering all of the above, Donny and Mary Grace’s California Adventures deserves a rating of five out of five stars. I recommend this book to children ages five and up. Also, parents and teachers who want to teach children about bullying, Down syndrome, and adapting and accepting life changes might find this book attractive.
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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Little siblings Donny and Mary Grace live happily in Wichita, Kansas, until their parents announce the bad news that they must travel to Kenya, Africa. They are going to carry out humanitarian work as missionaries. Mr. Miller will be a priest in a village, while Mrs. Miller will aid the villagers with the obtainment of clean drinking water. Given this situation, Donny and Mary Grace must stay at their grandparents' house in California for the two years the Millers' mission lasts. Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures by Catherine Anna Pepe focuses on the experiences of these children while living with their grandparents. The story addresses thought-provoking topics such as bullying, how to treat a child with Down syndrome, and adapting to the drastic changes that life throws at you.
This children's book is adequately arranged into seventeen chapters and narrated in the third-person perspective with simple and easy-to-understand language. The writing style is descriptive and captivating. The story centers on Mary Grace, an intelligent, charming, and empathetic little girl drawn to solving mysteries. Fortunately, Grandma Cathy and her friends are famous for solving a mystery a while back. They earned the nickname of the Grandma Gang. Donny, the other leading character, was modeled after the author's real brother and was portrayed as a clever, happy, and loving boy. His extremely optimistic attitude toward life conveys an inspiring message. This picture may be distinct from what some believe people with Down syndrome are.
The author included enthralling mysteries that kept me on the edge of my seat. For example, when Donny got lost at the zoo or when the rare notes turned up on Mary Grace's desk. In addition, the plot emphasizes morals around coexistence, love, and family life. Likewise, it is worth noting the thoughtful message that life can have strange twists and turns that seem negative. However, they can leave you with valuable lessons and experiences.
Overall, the book has many appealing aspects. The one I liked the most was how the subject of bullying was raised and developed, as it involved a mystery through a realistic case. It seemed rude and distressing but was handled in such a way that kept its realism and served to teach life lessons. I loved that the story highlighted that youths may have inappropriate behaviors induced mainly by dysfunctions in their homes. Nonetheless, they can always redeem themselves and correct their mistakes.
There was nothing I disliked about this brilliant book. The story captivated me from the beginning. I felt compassion for Donny and Mary Grace because they were going to spend two years without their parents. Plus, the bullying case turned my stomach as if it were against a close family member or me.
The editing was professional since I didn't notice any grammar or spelling errors. Considering all of the above, Donny and Mary Grace’s California Adventures deserves a rating of five out of five stars. I recommend this book to children ages five and up. Also, parents and teachers who want to teach children about bullying, Down syndrome, and adapting and accepting life changes might find this book attractive.
******
Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
